Motor-vehicle.



c. WILKERSSON.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' IN VEN TOR. WITNESSES: v CL YDE. WILKEF5ON- fi ATTORNEYS.

c. WILKERSON.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 19l4.

Patented Man], 1916;

2 SHEETSHEET 2.

I'N VENTOR;

2%; ATTORNEYS.

new and useful Improvements in Motor STATES PATENT 0m CLYDE'WILKERSON,or SAN ranncisoo, CALIFORNIA.

iioronvnnfonn.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLYDE WILKERSON, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county ofSan Francisco,

State of California, have invented certain Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The .invention relates to motor vehicles which are adapted to travel onand water.

The object of the inventionis'to provide a practical motor vehicle fortravel either on' land or water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle which may-bevquickly changed from a land traveling vehicle to a water travelingvehicle and-vice versa.

- vide a simple means A further object of the invention is to. 'PIOVlClGa common steerlng mechanism for both land and water travel.

Another object of the inventionis to profor starting the internalcombustion engine which drives the vehicle when the vehicleis either onland or in the water.

I The invention. possesses other advantageous features, which, with theforegoing will be set forth at length. in the following travel. Fig. hisa rear view description where I shall outline in full that form of theinvention which I have selected for illustration in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present speciwill fication. Thenovelty of the invention. be included in the claims succeeding saiddescription. Fromthis it will be apparent that I do not limit myself tothe showing made by said drawings and description, as I may adopt manyvariations within the scope of my invention as set forth in said claims.

' Referring to the drawings: Figure Tie a side view of the Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the vehicle of' my invention. Fig. 3 isa front View of the'vehicle arranged for land arranged for land travel.Fig. ,5 isa plan view of the' front portion of the vehicle chassis. Fig.6 is a cross section of the lower portion of the'vehicle body. Fig. 7 isa fragmentary section of the rear of the vehicle showing the propeller.

The vehicle of my invention has, when traveling on land, the generalappearance of a cycle car, since I prefer to construct it ofSpecification of Letters Patent, Application filed March 27, 1914.-

both land vehicle of my inventionof the vehicle formed therein belowSerial No. 827,554.

suchsizerather than sions of an automobile.

- mandala; '7, 1916.

of the general dimen- The cycle car body' is narrower in proportion toits length, than the automobile body, and this feature ren-f dersit moreadvantageous for use as a; boat; The vehicle of my invention consists ofa frame or chassis comprising the side rails 2 and suitable crossmembers for producing the required strength and rigidity. Secured to theside rails 2 by means of the springs 3 are the front and rear axles 4;and 5, on'

by the, sheet metal They front wheels 6 are in order that the 'Mountedon the frame or chassis, is the body of the vehicle which consists oftwo parts, the upper part 1.2, or body proper, and the lower part orbottom 13. Since the vehicle is to travel on water it is apparent thatthe portion of the body which occurs below the water line must bewater-tight. The upper and flower portions of the body, orin otherwords, the body and the bottom, are preferably made of sheet metal, thejoints in which are tight. The bottom 13 is curved or concave in shapeand slopes upward toward the front and is secured to the side rails bymeans of the bolts 14. These bolts pass through theside rails, which arereferably formed of wood, and also clamp the body 12 thereto. Arrangedbetween the siderails and the body and the bottom are gaskets 15, bywhich the joint is tightly sealed. The body extends upward above thewater line and no doors orapertures are such line, so that thepracticability of the boat construction isassured. Arranged within thethe drivers and passengers seats 16 and 17, below which isarranged atight floor 18 extending. from the dash 19 to the rear of the passengersseat 17 In a vehicle which is adapted to travel both on land and water,and which is driven by an internal combustion engine, there are severalproblems which must be overcome, which are inherent in the constructionof a practical vehicle. If it were not for the different conditionsunder'which-the vehicle must operate, these problems would not bepresented, since they only occur in com- I bination with the convertiblefeature of the vehicle. Means must beprovided for drivto th S a placedbevel gea'rs 3233, betwe n whi h i and means must be pedal 24. Thefriction the friction-wheel 26,

in the water.

" and 33, the power from ing the vehicle, both on land and water, meansmustbe rovided for steering the vehicle under both conditions of travel,

means ,must be provided for starting the' engine whenithe'vehicle iseither on land or water, means must be p the engine under bothconditions "of travel, provided for disposing of thegases of combustion.The means or their equivalent which have-been provided for accomplishinthese various results are not separate and independent inventions,but

form part of the complete whole. and are.

whee s by means of belts 28'. The friction transmission shown is of theusual type and is advantageous in vehicles ofthis nature on'accountof'its comparative lightness. The

friction wheel'26 is-movable longitudinally of the shaft25, so that itmay engage the friction disk at various distances from the center,thereby producing different speed ratios of engine and rear wheel, andthe disk 23 is movable'toward and fromthe wheel 26,

' so that it may be moved out of, contact therewith, when it isdesirable to drive the vehicle Arranged at the rear of the body is a propeller 29, mounted on a shaft 31which passes through the'body wall in awater tight bushing. The propeller shaft is driven from the engine, buton account of the fact that the res stance to travel through water issubstantially constant, no means are provided forvarying thepropellerspeed in proportion e engine speed. Splined to the drive 22 isa sleeve carrying two oppositely arranged a bevel gear. 34 which isconnected by suitable gears, shafts, chains with the propellershaft.When the gear34 is out of meshwith both gears 32 the engine is nottransferred to the propeller, and when eitherprovided for coolingSplined to the drive shaft 22 of the i spaced from the back of thesprockets and of said gears 32 or 33 are in mesh with gear 34, thevehicle will be propelled either forward or backward, depending uponwhich gear isenmeshed. The sleeve carrying gears 32 and 33' is moved andheld in any particular position by means of the lever 30, arranged atthe drivers seat.

Surrounding the propeller and attached to therear of the body is aflanged ring-35, to which may be clamped a cap 36, thereby completelyinclosing the propeller when the vehicle is traveling on land. The capmay be held in place by bolts or other means which are quicklyremovable. At the front .end of the body 1s a similar'flanged ring 37 ofthe same size as ring 35, surrounding an opening or aperture in thefront wall of the body. This opening is for thepurpose of allowing airto) sweep the engine and the cooling system, and keep the engine 0001.This aperture in the front of the body is open when the vehicle isoperating on land, I

but when it is to be driven into the water,

' the cap 36 is removed from the rear ring. 35 V and is secured to thefront ring 37, forming a water tight joint. When the body front isclosed, air to support combustion in the engine may be admitted throughan aperture 20 in the dash 19, which may be closed, when the front ofthe body is opened.

Means must be provided for'cooling the engine both on land and water.Since water isalways colder-than air, the same cooling effect may beobtained by exposing less of the surface of the cooling system to waterthan to air. Arranged on opposite sides of the body at that part whichincloses the engine, are receptacles or containers 38 having irregularouter surfaces,

or water. The containers or radiators 38 are connected together by aplurality of tubes 39 extending across the body and adapted to be sweptby the air entering the aperture in the front thereof when the vehicleis traveling on land. The radiator tanks are arranged on opposite sidesof the body,

portion of the hood 41. 1 The water jacket of the engine is suitablyconnected to' the radiator. I

.The exhaust gases of the engine must be disposed of without causingdiscomfiture to.

the persons in the vehicle. To accomplish this the passenger compartmentof the body so that a large superficial area-is presented to the passingair allowing access to the engine by removing the upper is separatedfrom the remainder of the body by the floor 18 which terminates at thebac of the rear seat. The back ing a chamber between the floor and thebottom. The gases of combustion are conveyed from the engine,through'the pipe 42 of the body is. rear seat, form-.

to the mufller 43', whence they are discharged. The

the body and ack of the rear seat and are then pass upward between, 0'

. the front of the body, I traveling on land. This heated air passesdischarged through the aperture 44 in the The aperture 44 is placed whenthe ve-' rear of the body. to occur above the water line, hicle is inthe water. tircly closed, somemeans must be provided for disposing ofthe cooling air which enters when .the vehicle is between the floor 1-8and the bottom of the body and is discharged through the aperture 44. I

The -vehicle is guided from the steering 'wheel 45 arranged adjacent thedrivers seat.

The wheel 45 is attached to the steering rod 46, ment which is capableof longitudinal movefor reasons which will hereafter be 1 described.-The rod 46 passes through a bushing 47 having an annular groove therelnposition and loosely carries a sprocketfwheel 48 which is provided; withfingers engaging in said groove. The sprocket wheel 481s provided'on-its'opposite side with a'clutch'face 49 which is adapted to benormally engaged by a clutch member 51 secured'to the rod 46. The rod 46is normally held in its rearward interposed between the fixed supportsprocketwheel 48 normally rotates with the rod. Engaging the .sprocketis a chain 55, which is secured at its ends to cables 56 and '57which'are connected to the .opposite steeringknuckles 58-59. The cablespass over pulleys arranged in i 35 side of the body,

'rectly connected together by the reach ed to a vehicle in wlii'chwatertightness of the body must be preserved below a certain line. j

' It isessential that some'means be providedfor starting the engine whenthe vehlcle is in the water and on account of the'n'ature ordinar of thevehicle, the present day electric starting systems a'ret'oo heavy andtheuse of the hand crank is. impossible; This roblem I havesolved byproviding means whereby the .steering wheel 45 maybe disconnected fromthe front wheels of the veengine,

hicle and connected to the drive shaftofthe so that thesteering wheelmay be I have employed for starting the engine.

movable stated before that the rod 46 was longitudinally,

Since the bodyis enby means of the spring 52 which is 53- and,

thecollar 54 fixed to therod, so that the engaged.

power is preferably carried tom and sides,

and that normally it is held in its, rear position by 'meansof thespring 52 engaging the collar 54 fixed on the rod., Secured to thiscollar'is a sprocket wheel 66 which is engaged by the chain 67 whichpasses over'a sprocket formed on the collar '68 which'is slidably 'andloosely mounted on the en 'ne drive shaft. The'collar 68 is providedwith a clutch member 69 having inclined teeth which is adapted to engagea similar clutch member 71 fixed to the drive shaft. Engaging collars 54and 68 and pivport 53 is a lever 72, which transfers the longitudinalmovement of collar 54 to collar 68. When the steering wheel is pushedforward, the clutch membersfil and 49 become disengaged, therebymechanism, and clutch members .69 and 71 are brought intomesh, so thatthe steering -wheel is directly connected to the engine shaft. Thesteering, wheel, therefore, serves the same purpose as a crank, and aquick rotation thereof will start the engine. 'As soon as the enginestarts, the -clutch members 69 and 71 are of the engine is nottransferred to the steering wheel. ward, and the steering mechanismbecomes The complete vehicle simulates an automobile or cycle-car veryclosely in appear 'ance and is a very eflicient and comfortable vehiclefor traveling both on land and water. Fenders may be arranged over thewheels and driving belts when desired.

The movement of the vehicle when traveling on land may be stopped bymeans ofbrake shoes engaging the driving pulleys 82 on the rear wheels.The brake shoes are operated-by the cables 7 3, which are connectedwithin the body to a suitable foot or hand lever and which pass throughthe tubes 61 and thence to the brake shoe levers.

The gasolene for furnishing the motive innarrow interconnected tanksarranged at the sides of the body 12'. Suitable lamps forillumination'at .night may be placed in suitable positions,

the head light 74 being preferably arranged at the center of the frontof the body.

I claim: 1. In a motor compartments, the lower compartment termmatmg atits rear end a'dJacent the upper The wheel is then pulled *backotedintermediate its ends on the fixed supreleasing the steering forcedapart, so that the motion edge of tlie body, said body being provided attherear adjacent the upper-edge with an aperture opening into said lowereompart-' ment-.

2. In a motor vehicle of the class described, a body having awater-tight bot a motor arranged at the forward end of said body, bodyinto upper and lower compartments,

seats arranged in the upper compartment,

a floor dividing the v vehicleof the class de- I scribed, a body havinga water-tight bottom,

and sides, a floor dividing the body into two opening adjacent its upperedge.

the motor and transmission mechanism be-. ing arranged in the lowercompartment, and an outlet to said lower compartment arranged at therear of the body adjacent its 4. In a motor vehicle of the classscribed, .a water-tight body, a floor dividing said body into twocompartments, 'a motor and transmission mechanism arranged in the lowercompartment, the front wall of said compartment being provided with aclosable aperture and the rear Wall of said compartment being providedwith an aperture arranged ad acent the upper edge of the vehicle body.

5. In a motor vehicle of the character described, a water-tight body,means for propelling saidvehicle, webbed guiding wheels arranged at thefront of said vehicle, a steering wheel arranged within 'said body, a

sprocket connected to said steering wheel, a chain engaging saidsprocket, cables connecting the opposite ends of said chain with therespective guiding wheels, said cables passing through the b dy adjacentthe upper a discharge edge thereof and tubes arranged on the outside ofthe body through which said-cables pass.

' 6. In a motor vehicle of'the-character described, a steering Wheel, alongitudinally movable rod on which said wheel is mounted,

a sprocket adapted to be connected to said rod, guiding wheels, meansconnecting said guiding wheels with said sprocket, an internalcombustion engine having adrive shaft, means adapted to connect saiddrive shaft with said rod, and means operative by the longitudinalmovement of said rod for dis-' connecting said rod from said sprocketand connecting it to said drive shaft.

In a motor vehicle of the character described, a water-tight body havingan aperture therein at the front end, a flanged ring encircling. saidaperture, a propeller at the rear end of the body, a flanged ring of thesame size surrounding said propeller and a cap adapted to be secured toeither of said flanged rings.

8. In a motor vehicle ofthe character de-' scribed, a water-tight body,ranged at the rearend of flanged ring secured to said body.andsurrounding said propeller and a cap removably attached to saidring.

In testignon my hand at k an Francisco, 19th day'of March 1914.

CLYDE WI KaRsoul In presence of H. G. Pnos'r, M. LE GoN'rE.

a propeller orsaid body, a a

California, this whereof, I have-hereunto set I

